Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-13
PANHANDLE PLUNDERERS
THE STORY OF THEIR DOINGS
THE TOPIC OF THE DAY.

Work Almost Sure to FollOw-H IN
dreds of Men Applying for the Places
of the Imprisoned RObbers-One Ar
reAt Made at Death Bed,
PITrsBURG, PA, April 12.--The whole
sale arrest of employees OF the Pan Handle
route for rohbing freight trains continues
to be the principal topic OF conversation
among railroad men and citizens geuer-
ally.
Superintendent Taylor's office was be-
sieged from early morning by men in
search OF employment. They fiocked to
the depot so fast that line of them eX-
tended outside of the office waiting for
their applications for situations as freight
conductors or brakemeu to be heard.
Many were givon employment. The road
is now fully equipped, and there is no de-
Isy in the movement of freight. No ar
rests have been reported since last night.
In ia thought the officials Of the road are
satisfied with the work of the detectives
and tnat no more arrests will be made in
this oity.
CONVICTION CONSIDERED CERTAIN.
Speaking Of the probable conviction of
the men now in jail, Special Agent Rue
said this morning that of sixty men now
under arrest, there were not more than
npe or two of them who stood any chance
or being shown not guilty. Said he: 1--WE
had our evidence so complete that we did
not make an arrest until we ad sufficient
nrOof to show that the man was guilty.
We expect to make over ten more arrests
Of men who worked the road successfully
for time, and then for fear Of detection
took positions on other lines. This will
swell the total number of arrests to SIXTY
eight or seventy"
TAKEN FROM DEATH-BED.
Mr.. Rue said the saddest case in con-
hection with the arrests was that OF a
man whose child is dying. When the Off
GERS knocked at the door of his home sun
day night be was sitting with his wife by
the bedside of a sick child. He appeared
to be man of more than ordinary Intelli-
geDce, and his home had an air of refine
ment. When the officers told him that
they had a warrant for his arrest, he
seemed to realize at once the disgrace
into which he nad fallen, and broke down
completely.
The capture of j. r. Dunlap at Denni-
son, o., yesterday particularly pleased
the detectives. He made a confession, In
which he said that the stealing had been
going on for months. He said he could
give the names OF all the men implicated
on the Pittsburg division, but was afraid,
saying: Il would give you the names of
officers, but, great God! they would kill
me-"
NO ORGANIZATION.
There was no organization among the
robbers, Dunlap said, and no regular
plan OF work. Each crew worked by
itself. 1t was the common understand
ing tnat every man should take all he
could dispose of to the best advantage.
There were number OF principals"
that name being applied to those who
reaped the largest benefits from the rob-
berries by giving Others pointers as to
what cars contained the most goods
These persons were generously rewarded
by the less prominent thieves after the
plunder had been disposed OF. The fences,
Dunlap said, were located in New Phila-
delphia, Dennison, Steubenville, Cincin-
nau, Pittsburg and Columbus.
SUSPICION OF THE DETECTIVES.
Notwithstanding Dunlsp's confession
the officers of the road still believe that
the punderers We're thoroughly organized
and were carrying on the robberies under
The systematic direction Of shrewd
leaders. When new man entered the
service OF the road, if he was thought the
right kind OF a fellow, he was initiated
into the gang with a rigid OaJh binding
aim to secrecy, After he had been ini-
uated 1t was easy enough to keep him in
check il he began to feel any pangs OF
that any wrong move would result dis
Astr0usly, as rsilrOadlng furnished first
class opportunities for putting men out
oi the way. Young men from the country
VINO were just beginning to run on the
road were the easiest prey. They could
soon be persuaded that there was nothing
wrong about stealing from rich railroad
companies. Being unused to the tricks
Ol the Old heads they were easily led on
until they were so deep in the tolls that
'hey could not GET out If they wanted to.
DYNAMITE FOUND.
While rumagin2 through the ELECTS OF
one OF the ringleaders this morning Spo-
cial Onhcer Miller discovered package
q six dynamite cartridges, sufficient to
bio" up the largest building in town.
Inc discovery created considerable
alarm and the cartridges were handled
very gingerly. Further examination
disclosed lot OF fuse and caps,
III TACT all the necessary
parapbernalia for the successful firing
o. the cartridges. Immediately after The
undlng OF The dynamite an Investigation
was begun, the result OF which, however,
4 we detectives refused to make public.
ihey even declined to give the name of
me man in whose room the stuff was
iound. An officer intimated that the OBJ
lect OF the robber in securing the dyna-
hlte was known, aud that it would make
sood reading when the proper time Tor It's
Il disclosure came.
OTHER ROADS VICTIMIZED,
There is little doubt that the present
exposure will lead To others OH other
roads, some OF these in the Pennsylvania
Company's system aud some In the Bal
uhore and OHIO. 1t Is said that the
sealing on these other roads was not
Coohned to box car freighte. Through
,ne ia OF teamsters and yardmen large
Quantities OF pIg iron and manufactured
Fl uon anu steel have been stolen from cars
mFlttsburg and In several other cities
dup soon.
tINc Nprrnps Rmnnnh Tn nanIh